I think it was a very good movie and also picked up a copy of the movie. It sort of reminded me a little like the movie “Officer and a Gentlemen”. I have nothing but total and unreserved respect for the Rescue Swimmers.

My Coastie Son-in-Law is not a big fan of “A” school graduates, but since he himself has not attended one, I take what he says with a grain of salt.

Interestingly, here in the state of Maryland, I have been actively participating in the development of a statewide plan for swift/flood water response. We have looked into the use of the MD National Guard helicopters for the possible implementation of a Rescue Swimmers Program, similar to North Carolina’s. I looked at the perquisites and there is no way I can swim 500yards in 8 minutes. I talked to my daughters, who are competitive swimmers and they said that is fairly quick pace.

Right now our team is one of 6 regional Maryland State Police Helicopter Emergency Aerial Tactics Teams (HEAT Team) and while qualified members (Swiftwater Technicians) may be deployed for swift/flood water operation arenas, we are not planning on any actual “live bait” rescues, in which the rescuer actually deploys into the water from the aircraft.

Pete